Lars Edvin Bru

Lars Edvin Bru is a Professor in Educational Psychology at the Centre for Learning Environment, University of Stavanger. His research focuses on the interplay between social-emotional competencies, academic engagement, and mental health in educational settings. He has led randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interventions promoting student well-being, including stress management and anti-bullying programs.

His work emphasizes teacher support as a critical factor in shaping students' growth mindset, emotional well-being, and academic outcomes. He has extensively studied the psychosocial learning environment, motivational climates, and barriers to educational attainment, particularly among vulnerable populations such as first-generation immigrants and students with learning difficulties.

Key research trends from his publications include:

• Longitudinal analysis of social-emotional learning and academic performance
• Impact of teacher-student relationships on student retention
• Interventions for stress reduction and emotional regulation in schools
• Interdisciplinary studies linking education, health psychology, and chronic disease management

Bru collaborates on projects involving multidisciplinary educational consultation and simulation training for healthcare professionals. He has contributed to understanding treatment burden in chronic conditions like heart failure and breast cancer, highlighting the role of support systems in both educational and clinical contexts.